Crystal Palace can take lots of positives from the defeat to Chelsea. (AP Photo/Sang Tan) AP Photo/Sang Tan

Crystal Palace left West London empty handed after defeat to Chelsea but they will feel immensely proud of the performance.

This new look Palace outfit under Tony Pulis more than matched their illustrious neighbours on the other side of town and could have picked up a useful away point on another day.

When Fernando Torres put the Blues in front after 16 minutes, the Palace side of old would have capitulated with the game as good as over. But this team is made of stern stuff and they responded brilliantly as Marouane Chamakh continued his rich vein of form with an equaliser 13 minutes later.

That’s three goals in as many games – four in total for the season – and is pleasing to see him silence some of the doubters like Gary Lineker on Match of the Day. It was just a shame Chelsea’s Ramires was given time and space to fire home a brilliant winner for the hosts.

Palace almost snatched a leveller through Stuart O’Keefe but for heroic defending from John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic on the line. In the end it was slightly disappointing that we didn’t get something from the former Premier League champions – how times change. Despite the defeat, we moved up a place in the league table on goal difference after Fulham’s loss.

Palace just need to maintain this impressive performances in the run-up to Christmas with tough fixtures coming up against Newcastle at home, then away trips to Aston Villa and Manchester City.

The Palace fans at the Bridge were yet again in outstanding voice throughout the entire 90 minutes and even Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho acknowledged it by applauding at the end and mentioning it in his post-match press conference.

‘Fantastic, fantastic, fantastic fans,’ he said. ‘They support their team till the end, they pushed them all the time.’ The Eagles will certainly need this excellent support to continue for the rest of the season.